The Research Administration unit at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy is responsible for the full life cycle of quality research administration ranging from proposal development to post-award administration, award close-out and award compliance. The services and resources provided by the unit are geared toward the needs of the research community as well as legal and regulatory requirements that govern research.

The Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy is the only graduate school of nutrition in North America. The breadth of our programs is unparalleled, including cutting-edge research and education from cell to society, from individuals to food systems, and from genetics to policy. This unique breadth and scope make the Friedman School a leading institution for evidence-based nutrition education, research, and public impact.

The Research Administration unit maintains a close working relationship with the Office of the Vice Provost for Research in order to keep abreast of policies and systems, and ultimately to create and support an environment that promotes research.

The Senior Research Administrator is responsible for administering varied portfolio including most complex sponsored awards. Utilizing extensive research administration knowledge, works with faculty to develop sponsored proposals and to manage post-award compliance activities. Consults with faculty and staff in interpreting intricate sponsor rules and regulations, may mentor junior level research administration staff and assists faculty and staff in navigating new research administration tools and systems, identifying, proposing solutions and working toward resolutions related to complex pre/post-award matters.

Essential Functions:
· Reviews funding proposal opportunity announcement or request for grant proposal to gain understanding of requirements, submission process and sponsor guidelines. Using the Research Administration System, prepares business components of grant application, prepares and routes proposal for internal approval, and prepares and submits subcontractor and other documentation to Office of Research Administration for final review and submission to sponsor.
· Responsible for preparing proposal's categorized budget and budget justification, confirming accuracy of costs. Verifies that correct facilities and administrative cost rate is applied. Identifies, obtains approval and ensures proper, documented cost share for proposal submission.
· Once grant has been awarded, revises categorized budget as necessary. Provides information for appointment of individuals in compliance with grant provisions. Identifies need for advance accounts and no-cost extensions and takes responsibility for completing required internal documentation.
· Monitors award budget and reports internally on spending. Reviews contracts and subcontracted procurement and financial transactions. Works with Principal Investigator (PI), school, department and central administration to determine allowable and allocable project charges. Develops burn-rate analysis and budget projections in Axiom budget system as needed.
· Collaborates and serves as content expert, providing consultative advice to faculty and staff and assists in identifying problems and underlying causes to successfully resolve research administration-related matters. May mentor junior level research administration staff.
· May assist school management with other assigned program operation functions.

Qualifications
Basic Requirements:
· The following required knowledge and skills as typically acquired by completing Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
· 5+ years of research administration experience
· Knowledge of funding agencies and their programs
· Knowledge of regulations that govern federal research funding and related areas of regulatory compliance
· Demonstrated organizational and leadership skills
· Excellent prioritization skills, strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills
· Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in collegial, supportive manner with faculty and staff
· Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
· Demonstrated ability to manage multiple assignments with tight, concurrent deadlines and with frequent interruptions
· Proficient with MS Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and internet
· Proficient with electronic grants management systems (i.e., grants.gov, NIH eRA Commons, NSF Fastlane, ProposalCentral, etc.) and experience with enterprise research administration systems
Preferred Qualifications:
· Designation of Certified Research Administrator (CRA), Certified Pre-Award Administrator (CPRA), or Certified Financial Research Administrator (CFRA)
· Experience with Kuali Coeus
Special Work Schedule Requirements:
Travel between Tufts' three campuses may be required.

Tufts University is an AA/EO employer and actively seeks candidates from diverse backgrounds. Please see the Tufts University non-discrimination statement.

Primary Location: United States-Massachusetts-Boston
Job: Finance and Accounting
Organization: Business Operations
Employee Status: Regular
Schedule: Full-time
Job Posting: Aug 1, 2016, 3:28:54 PM

PI95016844

Food Aid Packaging Research Assistant / Senior Research Assistant - Friedman School of Nutrition-16001467
Description

This is a grant funded position and is not eligible for severance pay.

The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, established in 1981, is the only self-governing graduate and professional school of nutrition in North America. Its mission is to improve the nutritional well-being of people worldwide through:

• the creation of new knowledge
• the application and dissemination of evidence-based information and
• the education and training of future leaders in the field

This mission is fulfilled by bringing together experts from the areas of clinical nutrition, social and public policy, and biomedicine. Faculty at the school include biomedical scientists, economists, epidemiologists, nutritionists, physicians, political scientists and psychologists who focus on a myriad of issues with the common thread of nutrition and its role in fostering the growth and development of human populations.

The Friedman School of Nutrition is seeking a full-time Research Assistant/Senior Research Assistant to work on a project relating to the assessment of the quality and programmatic uses of fortified food products used in U.S. Title II food aid programs. The project, called the Food Aid Quality Review, ( www.foodaidquality.pbworks.com) is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Office of Food for Peace (FFP).

FAQR Phase I, conducted from 2009 to 2011, examined the nutritional needs of beneficiary populations across the developing world and the nutritional quality of commodities currently available to meet those needs, with the objective of improving the quality of Title II food aid commodities and programming. The findings of FAQR Phase I were published as a report, Delivering Improved Nutrition: Recommendations for Changes to U.S. Food Aid Products and Programs (USAID, April 2011), which is available at http://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/agriculture-and-food-security/food-assistance/resources/research-and-policy-papers.

The project completed Phase II of research in February 2016, which involved presenting findings and recommendations, implementing many of the recommendations, and testing recommendations through follow-on studies. The current phase, FAQR Phase III, will conclude activities initiated in earlier phases, and will respond to new priorities. Focus areas include: research on the acceptability and cost effectiveness of new food products; testing new formulations of products (compared with existing foods); studying improved packaging and delivery approaches to enhance logistics; organizing consultative and expert meetings to draw on the widest possible expertise and take account of the multiple perspectives on food aid programming; synthesizing state-of-the-art evidence on food-based delivery of micronutrients in environments where food aid is required; and defining and disseminating improved field tools for calculating the cost-effectiveness of products and interventions, including specialized foods.

This job will be a Research Assistant or Senior Research Assistant, depending on the experience of the candidate.

The Food Aid Quality Review (FAQR) Phase III Research Assistant/Senior Research Assistant (RA) will work closely with the FAQR Principal Investigators, Food Technologist, and Project Manager. The RA's primary focus includes FAQR Phase III activities related to the food aid packaging. This will include exploring the potential for improved packaging in enhancing/retaining nutrients in food aid products, as well as in extending product shelf life, improving transportability, resisting pest infestation, and as a vehicle for messaging. The RA will pursue consultation with implementing partners to assess issues of packaging and storage, including pest infestation, mold contamination, food wastage, as well as environmental concerns relating to container disposal.

The RA will assist with:

• Assist in completing a concept note outlining the purpose, objectives, and methods for the FAQR Phase III work stream in food aid packaging
• Communicate with partners at the World Food Programme (WFP), and United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Natick Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and others.
• Assist in identifying members of a Task Force focused on food aid packaging and creating documents to guide the Task Force objectives.
• Perform a comprehensive literature review on current available packaging technologies applicable to food aid.
• Complete all interviews and analyze results to gather information on issues regarding packaging, storage, pest infestation, mold, food wastage.
• Assist in the organization of a workshop to share findings and gain additional input from stakeholders on recommendations for next steps on USAID priorities for packaging technology (Participants include: Food aid Suppliers, Packaging companies, Packaging experts)
• Complete a final report highlighting major food packaging issues, detailing recommendations and next steps for USAID
• Complete a policy brief communicating key policy relevant findings
• Any other assigned tasks as assigned for the successful completion of FAQR Phase III objectives
• Attend and present at scientific conferences or team meetings as needed

This is a full-time position at Tufts University in Boston, MA to begin by mid-May 2016 or as soon thereafter as possible.

Qualifications
Basic Requirements:

• 1-3 years related experience preferred, with experience in food aid packaging technology, nutrition, and food science.
• Preferably some prior experience working in international nutrition, with knowledge of food aid commodities, food aid packaging, storage, pest infestation, mold, food wastage.
• Experience with workshop facilitation, qualitative and quantitative data analysis is a plus.
• Masters degree in Food Science or Technology, Packaging, Nutrition or a combination of experience on the forgoing areas.
• Must have working knowledge of nutrition, and food science.
• Fluency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with data analysis programs (such as SPSS, STATA, Nvivo) is desirable.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Food technology experience with basic understanding of various aspects of packaging, storage techniques, pest infestation, familiarity with food aid products, especially those used in food assistance programming such as: fortified blended foods, fortified rice, fortified cereals, ready-to-use foods (nutritional pastes).
• Applied knowledge on food handling, food safety, food aid supply chains is a plus.

Special Work Schedule Requirements:
Occasional research team meetings and reporting deadlines require working beyond normal office hours.

Tufts University is an AA/EO employer and actively seeks candidates from diverse backgrounds. Please see the Tufts University non-discrimination statement.

Primary Location: United States-Massachusetts-Boston
Job: Research
Organization: Academic Programs - Friedman
Employee Status: Regular
Schedule: Full-time
Job Posting: Jun 28, 2016, 1:16:30 PM PI94712361

The goal of the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Nutrition research is to provide support in Asia and Africa devoted to implementing effective interventions that integrate agriculture and nutrition activities to achieve a significant reduction in stunting among children less than 24 months of age and under nutrition in mothers. Our specific goals include: to generate i) empirical evidence of what works at scale (through applied research), and ii) to support enhanced institutional and human capacity in Nepal and Uganda to conduct research and implement effective nutrition activities at scale in future years.

• This Data Analyst position will be based in Boston at the Friedman School. The responsibilities include supporting the Principal Investigators with the analysis of two large scale studies in Asia and Africa. Assists with producing statistical and evaluation reports, including tables and charts.
• Provides technical assistance for data analysis, statistical analysis, and development of data collection instruments.
• Writes methodologies, analyzes and presents data.
• Examines data quality.
• Produces output and interpretation.
• Researches new and relevant data sources.
• Awareness of the utility of other analytical tools and how they can be used interchangeably to achieve the best results.
• Manage multiple projects within their assigned time plans.
• Generate innovative approaches to manipulating and investigating data in order to address research questions and uncover useful information.
• Performs other duties as required.

Qualifications
Basic Requirements:

• Graduate level training MPH/MBBS required and experience in data analysis a must. Working with complex data sets and a variety of software packages. Experience in developing countries a must Understanding of research, surveillance and program evaluation methodologies.
• Knowledge of instrument design and development and data coding procedures.
• Good writing skills and expertise in international public health issues necessary.
• Ability to work collaboratively and as part of a diverse team.
• Ability to meet deadlines and to manage workload independently.
• SAS/STATA/R

Special Work Schedule Requirements:
Office Work.

Tufts University is an AA/EO employer and actively seeks candidates from diverse backgrounds. Please see the Tufts University non-discrimination statement.

Primary Location: United States-Massachusetts-Boston
Job: Research
Organization: Friedman School of Nutrition
Employee Status: Regular
Schedule: Full-time
Job Posting: Aug 8, 2016, 9:30:07 AMPI95061663